Rare Bird Brewpub

Great food and service. We arrived on a Friday around 5:45 and they had an hour wait for a booth so we sat in the bar section (self serve) and it was great. Cute coloring sheets with colored pencils for kids & GREAT kids meal portions- truly one of the better restaurants we have been too. Happy hour was fabulous! As of Nov 2025, here are the HH specials! Highly suggest and look forward to going back.

We always enjoy our time at Rare Bird and it's also our go to spot for bringing family/friends visiting TC. The staff, food, atmosphere and service are always fantastic. Tyler, Alyssa and the whole team are always welcoming and spot on with remembering our go-to menu items! And if you have any vegetarians or vegans with you, or someone looking for n/a drink option, Rare Bird has got you covered there also! Keep up the great work!

The food here was absolutely amazing. The staff was super nice and helpful as well! I was thrown off at first because you pick your table and then order at the bar, but the staff made it seamless. The playlist was also great! The nachos with the pork belly was by far my favorite but the dirty bird fries and club sandwich were good as well. When I come back I will definitely be getting the curry fried chicken sandwich.

Rare Bird is a standout spot in Traverse City that combines a brewery and restaurant into one unique experience. They offer an impressive selection of local beers, showcasing the creativity and quality of the region’s craft brewing scene. The food menu is just as noteworthy, with dishes that pair perfectly with their brews. On our visit, we tried the pork belly nachos—loaded with tender, flavorful pork belly, fresh toppings, and just the right amount of sauce—and washed it down with a perfectly balanced old fashioned. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, making it a great place to relax with friends, enjoy great flavors, and soak in the local vibe. This is a place you’ll want to add to your must-visit list if you’re in Traverse City.

Rare Bird in Traverse City is our new favorite TC restaurant! The nachos were the best the three of us have ever had, and my Harvest Turkey Sammie—with shaved turkey, beet and red onion jam, havarti, arugula, and garlic mayo on toasted ciabatta—was absolutely spectacular. The Kushy Punch IPA was the perfect combination of citrus & hoppy to compliment to an unforgettable meal! Highly recommend.

We enjoyed our time at Rare Bird! We sat in the bar area so cannot speak to dining service. We ordered the pork belly nachos and (like many in these reviews) thought they were delicious and had unique, but not overpowering, flavors. The pub burger was good, but not to the level that the nachos were. Both items were relatively heavy and filling, which is great if that’s what you are on the hunt for!

I was in the other night and I just want to compliment my server ALYSSA. That girl was absolutely amazing. Went above and beyond with everything including bringing me an extra sauce for my pec fries! Her smile was Contagious! And that laugh! Made my day! The most attentive server I’ve ever had! Long Thank you so much ALYSSA! I will be back for the great food and awesome beer but more importantly to see you!!!!

I play weekly trivia at Rare Bird which is fun, but highly enhanced by the wonderful menu and terrific service. The pub style food is delicious, and features creative weekly specials. I want to shout out our waiter, Tyler. We make sure we sit at his table because he is attentive, knows our drink orders, and even that I prefer a salad with my tacos rather than chips. The food and service are winners, even if we lose at trivia.

The food and ambiance was wonderful. Our server Tyler H was fantastic, made sure we were well taken care of.

I am only giving this four stars bc it didn't have a wide range of different types of beers and the chairs at the bar really sucked. The service was awesome and the bartenders were attentive and cool. The ambience is more chill and laid back vibe. Their clothing was awesome looking. We got some wings and crushed them- they were crunchy and delicious!!

We wish we lived nearby to make this our weekly neighborhood bar because it was perfection. They had no opening when we arrived but would text us when a table was ready so we walked along the river for a short bit until we received the text. We were seated in a spacious booth. We were here in summer and tried the blood orange and chief coconut brown beers and loved them. I could drink the coconut brown beer nightly I think. A perfect stout with just a hint of sweetness but lots of creaminess. We started with the salad which surprised us with its size and freshness. Rather than a sad slice of tomato, the salad comes with a delightfully flavorful roasted tomato. And then we got the fried buffalo chicken sub sandwiches. We were worried the buffalo sauce might be too spicy so I got mine on the side. The chicken was juicy with a well seasoned batter. The made in house buffalo sauce was tangy and perfectly spiced without being blow your mind spicy, and worked well with the blue cheese on the sandwich. Service was on point. Our server was knowledgeable and efficient and seemed pleased at how much we loved the beer and sandwiches.

Solid beers and solid food. Cocktails and wine for those who don't realize how awesome craft beer is. Inside and outside seating. Friendly and attentive staff.

Cute little brew pub close to downtown. You have to pay for parking and back into the spot. Server was so awesome. They had an extensive beer menu and two ciders. We got pretzels and I had the cherry chicken salad. Highly recommend this place

Great brewpub Super service and amazing server Food was completely delicious Grandkids had the Mac cheese and can't wait to come back for more. We split some pretzels (yum) I had the beet salad (and would definitely order it again) Wife had a salad that came with Gargonzola cheese (and to our surprise that is a Bleu cheese) so waitstaff took care of that for us (thank you). Next time we are here in Traverse City we will come for a meal.

We stopped by here just a few minutes after 10 p.m. on a Friday night just for a flight. The host immediately notified us that they stopped serving food at 10 p.m.; the last call was at 10:30 p.m. and closed promptly at 11:00 p.m. We were directed to sit at the bar even though high-tops and booth seating were available. They offer a 4-sample flight with no substitutions, exceptions, or flight board. So, if you're not an IPA fan, tough luck. I decided to have a full pour of coconut brown, which was true to the description but underwhelming. There were patios, high- and low-tops, booths, and bar seating. The bar seats were super uncomfortable. The service was okay. The environment was loud, and I felt unwelcome. I probably would not return.

Had an amazing time at Rarebird Brewpub! My friend and I tried both the fish tacos and chicken tacos, and we traded so we could sample both. The chicken tacos are absolutely INSANE--so flavorful, I honestly could eat 50 of them and still want more. The fish tacos were delicious too, but I can't stop thinking about those chicken ones! The drinks were fantastic. We each had a cider and a mojito, both refreshing and perfectly crafted. The vibe here is so much fun, and the place itself is a lively vibe. Highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for great food, drinks, and an all-around awesome experience! 5 stars all the way!

5/5! Great vibes on the outdoor patio, with fast service and delicious food. The cucumber jalapeño margarita was delish, and the pecorino fries are a must-try in my opinion. My boyfriend loved the pub burger, which seemed popular with others too. Highly recommend coming here and sitting outside on a nice night.

If you get the salad you will get three cubes of chicken. So you pay $16 for a bowl of lettuce. The place has lots of interesting options. The food we got was good for someone. The pork nachos were spicy and not to bad. I hate it beat up on the place. The service was great. The place was cool over all. Not my cup of tea.

We visited Rare Bird on our last day of vacation. By that point, I had been indulging myself for days and needed something light. Rare Bird had a great menu with a nice array, but it wasn't too large or overwhelming of a menu. My Cobb Salad was large and fresh. They let me customize a little bit and it was exactly what I needed. What I liked most about Rare Bird was the decorations. The owners had clearly put a lot of work, heart, and soul into every detail of the place. I love what they did with the walls and tables, thusly honoring the history of the building. A great place, for sure

Rare Bird is a great spot to stop off in Traverse City for some delicious eats & brews! The service was prompt and attentive. We sat on the patio with the pup- thankfully! There is a great shaded outdoor sitting area if you want to enjoy the beautiful northern michigan weather. All the food was amazing. The kids really enjoyed it! Very family friendly.

The food Pub Burger was cooked to perfection. I also had dirty fries which were impeccable. My Old Fashion was well liquors up. Wait staff was on their A game!!!

The service was friendly, but the food was not tasty. I had the beet salad, which was a bowl full of spring mix salad with some diced beets and cheese. Super bland. They were out of pepitas, so maybe that makes a difference. My husband had the curry chicken sandwich and didn't like it. My kids' had the cheeseburgers, which didn't come with any toppings but were probably the best out of the bunch taste-wise. The cheese sauce for the cheese fries was very watery.

Amazing cocktails, food and especially staff--highly recommend this TC spot! Will be back next summer!

The beer was so good that I could not decide between the burger or beer. This brewery is definitely for beer connoisseurs. Loved the taste of rose petals in my beer & a hint of raspberry. I wish we had a brewery like this in Vegas. Enjoyed my meal, but unfortunately I live too far to come back or else I would be paying them a visit monthly!

Ordered: two beverages because I had a coupon. I tried a mango sour and a rose blonde. Beet salad. Yum. Service: A-ok. Ambiance: mix of families, cyclists, and tourists.

Family-friendly brewpub in the NOBO section of Traverse City. Cozy little place to huddle up, drink some beers, enjoy some on-tap cocktails, meet the locals, and delectable offerings from Chef Michael Praintino. Service is friendly and helpful to guide you through the taps and the menu. Stop by for a bite, a brew, or a breezy summer afternoon. Start with portobello fries, pretzels, and wings. Burgers are great but don't skip Korean pork belly tacos and pork belly Bahn Mi.

Wow! Must must come here! I ordered the Korean pork belly taco and they were sooooo good so flavorful and everything you could ever want from a taco. I came with a group of 6 on a Saturday night and they got us in right away. My group ordered a lot of different items but on of my favorite is definitely the homemade hummus I could not stop chowing down on this soo good. Decently priced for the portions you get. The staff was so nice too will have to come back.

I came here because the place I wanted to go to next to it was closed, but I was very happy it was. This place is amazing! The drinks were so good and the food was amazing as well. I ended up having multiple drinks because I wanted to try so many. I started with the Montana mule and pretzel sticks. The mule was good but nothing outstanding about it, the pretzels made up for it, the beer cheese was probably the best I've ever had. I then had the lamb burger and leaf pepper (bourbon, ginger beer, apple cider) as well as an old fashioned. I ordered another appetizer because I couldn't pass up cheese curds with crushed Michigan potato chips as a breading. And I was NOT disappointed! To finish I had a boozy hot chocolate which was bourbon hot chocolate and Irish cream. Definitely a great place to eat and I had plenty of napkins

We stopped in Rare Bird after receiving three recommendations from three very different people. Yelp reviews looked promising as well. We arrived during Happy Hour and we were seated immediately in a large booth. The space is large with booths, bar seating, and high tops. The booths are roomy and accommodating. Lots of natural light and shades for when the sun does shine in Michigan. Our server was attentive and provided great recommendations for beer and dishes. The only draw back I would note is that they have one set flight of four beers, but they do offer plenty of tastes before you order a pint. To the food. As I mentioned we arrived during Happy Hour and their HH offerings are pretty extensive and we mostly shared several small plates. Those Sweet Chili Brussel Sprouts were quite possibly the best sprouts we have ever had. Lots of flavor, not just balsamic, and they were juicy. All too often we find they are dry and charred to a crisp. The tacos and nachos had good flavor and fresh bright ingredients. Hubby was very pleased to find fresh jalapenos, not jarred pickled peppers. Beers. Good selection. The No Pressure stout was seriously smooth. Didn't become bitter at the end which we find many heavy stouts can be once they warm up a bit. We would definitely stop in again next time we are in the area. Thank you, Rare Bird for a great experience!

Something for everyone. Came with my husband and 3 kids. We enjoyed sitting on the patio. I loved the vegan menu and my husband and kids loved the regular and kids menus. The IPA was fresh and well balanced. Looking forward to coming back!

Awesome little spot with some beers on tap and sit outside, which is also pretty nice. Service is pretty good, didn't eat too much, but drinks are good and there's quite quite some variety.

After a glitch, we were contacted by the phenomenal staff at rare bird to talk about a prior situation that made myself and my husband I uncomfortable. This attests to the great brew pub and owners of this establishment. Many times when you have an issue, it gets over looked. I'm deeply thankful and appreciate of such stellar customer service and human beings. Look forward to our next trip to TC so we can come back to our favorite watering hole!

Rare Bird indeed. All I wanted was wings. Mine were covered in feathers, and not one or to pin feathers but loaded with thick, long and curly feathers. To top it off, one of my wings was injured broken, bloody and brown. Bone inside was crushed. Now if you know food and work with chicken you see the bruise and blood through the skin. Shame on the chef for not noticing this and disposing of it before it was even smoked and fried. Disgusting. On a good note the waitress apologized and took care of it. On a bad note I got my fill of wings for a while:(

Service: 2 stars Food: 4.5 stars Atmosphere: 5 stars Rare Bird was a delight to stumble across. The menu items were excellent and had a good happy hour selection from 3-6pm M-F plus seasonal favorites I would definitely be interested in coming back for. The only setback I had to knock a star off was the service. You do need to put in your order at the bar and also ask for you bill there after you're done. A bit different OK. The frustration came from 2 guys working behind the bar and they both acknowledged me yet the waiting time! I was patient enough for even a patron to compliment me how nicely I was waiting and that he wouldn't have been so kind. Definitely be mindful of what you put down for tips here because they don't do anything much other than cook your food.

The service was great and all the staff very friendly and helpful. The food was amazing, especially the portobello fries.

Cool ambience, delicious food, excellent beer, and an awesome staff!!! I recently moved to the area and our server, Alyssa, was very welcoming and helpful with her local insights and suggestions. I predict many more visits to this establishment in the future! Five stars!!!

The beer was good. The humus small plate was definitely small and disappointing. The peppers were soft, not crunchy and not cleaned or sliced very well. The celery was crunchy but could have been cleaned better. A few nacho chips, some broken and crumb-like. The staff gave me some more though, very nice. The French fries were good. The parking is diagonal parking at $1.25/hour.

Great food. Lovely patio. Dog friendly. Our food was delicious. We came for lunch and it was just the vibe we were looking for.

Food was ok, service was somewhat nonexistent. I guess you know that going into it. Much better options in the area, I'd pass if I were you.

Great food, great service and great beer. Ambiance was also unique and fun. Overall a very positive experience. Only downside side was the weird parking.

First visit to this great brewer near downtown. Have a wide variety of their awesome beer as well as several cocktails on tap. We also had dinner here. I had the black bean burger with a side of dirty bird fries. The burger had good flavor, but was a little overly done (a bit crispy on the outside). The fries were excellent! Service is friendly. Street parking only.

The burger was pretty bad. It was thin, and 1/3 the size of the bun. The mahi mahi tacos were alright. The sauce made it better. The chips were super thick. You have to back into the parking the front.

-Took a long time to get our order taken. You have to place your order yourself with the bartender. - Food was obviously frozen and not great - Appetizer came out with the entrees after we specifically asked not to be - Forgot sides of ranch & mayo

Good place in Traverse City!! A bit off the beaten path from downtown, but a great brewery with fun on tap cocktails?? The bartender was so kind and made me a special drink that combined a cocktail with a seltzer! I had the Buddha bowl and added sourdough croutons. Basic, but fresh and good. We also tried the pretzels for an app- hot & good dipping cheese! My mom got the chicken tacos and they were just okay, but definitely go for some apps, salads, burgers, brews, impeccable service and a nice patio!

Service was great, everyone was welcoming, nice and knowledgeable. Had a burger with the loaded fries and it was so good, we will be back

Food was delicious! If you are looking for a nice place in traverse city that is casual this your place. We sat outside and the patio is really nice. We went inside to order our food because they were short staff which we did not mind. Everyone was friendly and had recommendations. If you are familiar with upland brewery in Indiana this place is comparable! I had the curry chicken sandwich and my boyfriend had a hamburger. Super good! Also walking distance to some more fun shops, ice cream places, and the lake!

Fried cheese curds - EPIC. Lamb burger with onion apple jam - delicious. We're not big beer people so can't rate that, but I was offered a small taste of a cider I was thinking about, and I thought that was cool.

McClain was fantastic to deal with. We had a little glitch with my credit card, but she squared it away immediately. The vibe here is really chill if you're looking for a place to duck into for a beer.

Had a fabulous experience at Rare Bird today. Tyler H. Was our server, very engaging, knowledgeable of the menu and craft beer! He also had some great suggestions for us and everyone loved their lunch! Casual cozy atmosphere. Attentive service!Highly recommend!

SERVICE: 5 FOOD QUALITY: 5 DRINK QUALITY: 5 ORDER TIME: 5 AESTHETICS: 5 NOISE LEVEL: 3 MENU SELECTION: 5 OVERALL EXPERIENCE: 4.71 A stop along the kayak, bike and brew tour. Out of all the stops we decided that the menu of this restaurant looked the best. We were set up in the outdoor seating area. They had 2 outdoor bartenders who were very nice and also very good at their job. Was able to take orders, and fill beers very quickly with no mistakes. This was amazing considering the mass amount of people who were there. I ordered the Buffalo chicken burger and it was absolutely amazing. The chicken was so juicy, perfect amount of Buffalo sauce, and the bread didn't fall apart while eating the burger. Also ordered pretzel sticks and they were cooked to perfection. The sauce was also good. Their beer list looked amazing. I wound up settling with the rose riveter. It went down very well with my food. It was so good that I ordered a second, even though I was about to get in a kayak and paddle across choppy Lake Michigan. If you're in traverse city then don't miss out. Overall this was our favorite spot in the area. The only problem we had was that it was so popular that it was hard to talk because it was so loud.

This is a nice, family friendly bar/restaurant. They have private parking on the side and back and you can enter at the front or back. They also have dining area seating, bar seating and patio seating. The patio cannot be accessed from the restaurant and is on the side, as kind if a stand alone. It is nice though and has picnic tables and a bar out there. You have to be seated by the host/hostess, even if you are going to sit at the bar. They have a few televisions around the bar and dining area that usually have sports on. I had a party of 4 and was seated right away in the dining area. They have a food menu, kids menu and an extensive beer menu. There food menu is not extensive, but it is packed with burger, salads, tacos and sandwiches. I got the mac and cheese with fries for the littles and a lamb burger for me. The food was ready very quickly and they were pretty busy too. My burger was pretty good. It was not the best that I have had, but it had flavor and hit the spot. The fries were also good, but it is hard to mess those up really. The entire staff there was awesome very, courteous friendly and helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here. It was a chill atmosphere with good food and the friendliest service. I highly recommend checking this place out if you happen to be in T City.

The trout dip appetizer was tasty and served with, nachos, celery, and red pepper sticks.A nice twist. Mahi mahi tacos were topped with nice crisp veggies. Likewise for the chicken tacos. My beer choice was the Rose the Riveter, unique but tasty. The ambience was rustic using many recycled pieces. Lots of old beer cans and beer taps lined the tops of the wood beams. The waitress was friendly and attentive. Recommended!

Great find and hit it during happy hour so found some good drink values. Food was very good and atmosphere is relaxed. Service was great and we loved the large booth seating. Definitely on our list of gems in TC and thought the value was quite good.

Had a variety of drinks to choose from. Staff was friendly. TVs on, but if you like quieter/ ambient lighting places it checks those boxes. Had Pork belly tacos generous portion of the meat. Also had the porta bella fries. All good flavors.

I'm here at Rare Bird with my family to celebrate my niece's Master's Degree and Tyler H. our server is fantastic! Very welcoming and super fast with drinks is and appetizers. HOWEVER, the temperature in the restaurant is so uncomfortable WAY TOO HOT and it feels as if there is no air conditioning in the place. There are 6 of us in a booth with plenty of room, but it's SO UNBELIEVABLY HOT that we're all using the menus as hand fans. It's 86 degrees outside and feels like 90 due to the humidity and the restaurant's thermometer is set at 77. What in the world?!?! All of our faces are dripping with sweat and we're just sitting!! I feel so badly for the wait staff as they bustle around in this heat. Tyler H. was super understanding but unable to adjust the thermostat because it's under lock and key. The owner of Rare Bird needs to stay on top of the temperature for the wait staff and patrons. I sincerely hope that the owner of Rare Bird read this and gets in his/her car and drives to the restaurant ASAP. I've seen several couples and small groups of people walk into the restaurant and immediately turn around and leave. My niece must eat Gluten Free and Vegan or we also would have left and chosen a different spot for dinner. It's miserable in Rare Bird on Tuesday, June 18, at 5:37pm.

Tyler H was fantastic as our server! he was helpful and humorous. The food was delicious! Vegan and gluten free offerings made it great for our family. Unfortunately it was VERY HOT and not as enjoyable with the lack of air conditioning.

Great food and atmosphere. Love that they have vegetarian options. The black bean burger is very good. Nice service too!